Assessment of outcomes after surgical treatment of an isolated facet-syndrome in the cervical spine using facet joint laser denervation

Abstract

Chronic pain in the cervical spine is one of the relevant problems of modern vertebrology. This is due to the polyetiological formation of clinical symptoms and to the variety of surgical techniques, which are often used without taking into account the leading pathomorphological substrate of clinical symptoms. Purpose: To analyze clinical results of surgical treatment of an isolated facet-syndrome of the cervical spine using laser denervation of facet joints (FJ).Material and methods. The study included 234 patients aged in average 58 (53; 67). After provocative tests, an isolated facet-syndrome was diagnosed in them. FJ laser denervation was performed in 2013–2016. A visual analogue pain scale (VAS), neck disability index (NDI), Macnab subjective satisfaction scale and complications were used for analyzing treatment efficacy. The follow-up dynamic observation lasted for 36 months, in average, after the surgery. Results. It has been found out that the technique of laser denervation of cervical FJ is highly effective for treating patients with an isolated facet-syndrome caused by FJ degenerative diseases. Clinical efficacy is supported by a persistent positive dynamics in terms of pain syndrome and functional status at early and late postoperative periods with low risks of perioperative complications.